Process for manufacturing confections



J. M. LEACH PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING CONFECTIONS Sept, 8, 1953 3Sheefs-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 13, 1948 INVENTOR.

' J. M. LEACH PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING CONFECTIONS Sept. 8, 1953 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 13, 1948 Sept. 8, 1953 J. M. LEACH 2 ,651,573

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING CONFECTIONS Filed Nov. 13, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESSFOR MANUFACTURING CON FECTIONS John M. Leach, Port Washington, N. Y.Application November 13, 1948, Serial No. 59,845

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to the art of confection making. Moreparticularly, it relates to a process and apparatus for making hardcandies and specialties.

The manufacture of hard candies by conventional methods involves aconsiderable amount of hand labor. This is caused by the inability ofprior machines to handle molten hard candy mixes without either gummingdue to solidification of the mix or caramelizing due to exposure of themix to temperatures slightly above cooking temperatures but within thecaramelizing range.

In order to avoid these conditions which occur within a relativelynarrow range, the industry has adopted the procedure of cookingthe mixto a maximum desired temperature just below the caramelizing range, thendumping the mix on a cold table and working it with paddles until itassumes a taffy-like consistency, at the same time working in coloringand flavoring; then roping it on heated rollers to a desired size orpassing it through squeeze rollers to form a sheet, and thereafterpassing it to a forming machine such as sucker or drop rolls or alollypop double-die rotary machine. All of this hand operation has beenexpensive and time-consuming and has caused the manufacture of hardcandy to be a relatively expensive operation. This same or slightlymodified operation has been carried over to the manufacture of smallpackaged candies in the form of rings or squares on a high volume basis.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine andprocess for making hard candy confections on a completely automaticbasis.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process andmachine for making hard candy confections at a high speed at a minimumof expense and also of uniform quality.

It is a still further object of the present invention to make candyconfections of unique form, for example, combined tongue-bladelollypops.

Other objects and'advantages of the invention will become apparent ofthose skilled in the art as the description of the invention in itspreferred form is disclosed, as, for example, by the presentspecification, which discloses what is now considered to be thepreferred form of themvention.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference should 'behad to the following specification taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, throughout which like reference characters referto like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a machine constructed in accordance withthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view of the machine of Fig. 1 showingthe wiring connections;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the candy confections which canbe produced by the machine and method of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of one of the elements of the machine of thepresent invention, namely a movable carriage for one of the products,which forms a bottom die section;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the carriage of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the carriage of Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a top die member of the machine of thepresent invention;

Fig. 8 is a central cross sectional view of a top 7 die member takensubstantialy on the plane indicated by line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a modified form of bottom die section ofthe machine of the type adapted for making lollypops;

Fig. 10 is a central cross sectional view of the bottom die section ormember taken substantially on the plane indicated by line Ill-Ill ofFig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of the assembly formed by the bottomdie section of Fig. 10 and the top die section of Fig. 7 modified to fitthe lower die section of this particular modification;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational View of the candy valve of themachine.

Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of the candy valve of the machine;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view of the candy valve of the machinetaken substantially on the plane indicated by line I l-l4 Fig. 13; and.looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary cross sectional View of the bottom die oiler ofthe machine, and,

Fig. 16 is a side View of a lollypop of the type which can be made bythe machine and process of the present invention.

The machine of the present invention, referring to Fig. 1, comprises acooking tank Ill having a removable top I2 which is removably attachedto the tank [0 by any well known fastening such as turn-lock connectors(not shown in detail). The tank It holds the candy mix during cookingand dispensing as shown at M.

The tank 10 is heated by any suitable heating source such as the gasburner l6 which is supplied with gas through a gas-electric valve is ofwell known type available on the market. The gaselectric valve I8 iscontrolled with a thermostat of the type which can be set to close thevalve l8 and interrupt the gas flow when any desired temperature isreached by the candy mix. The

.thermostat-isdenoted by 20 and; has a bulb .22 which extends to. near:the bottom oi the candy mix I4. The valve I8 isenergized under the con-.trol of the thermostat '20 by a suitable current source 24.

. ..Thetank top I2 is supplied with a pressure, gauge 25 and isconnected to a vacuum pipe 23 and a pressure pipe 30 which is connected:

burner 42 controlled by an adjustment valve 44.

heats thevalve .40 and secondary chamber. This burner 42 also servesasapilot flame for the tank heater burner- [6. Electrical heaters or steamjackets. or any other. desired .heatingsource may be substitutedfor. thegasburners if so desired.

Sprocket. wheels, 16 and 48 V are suitably carried for rotation andsupportbetween them an endless chain 0 which carriesflat. desiredintervals a s ries, of carriages 52. which form; bottom die members orsections. These carriages 52 are shown in detail inFigs. 4., 5 andfi.and comprise a flat body, 54 provided with raised side pieces 55 and anendshoulder 58. These side pieces 56 and end shoulder. 5B .provide arecess for reception-oii aflatblade. B9 of the type used by physiciansto hold down the tongue of a patient during .a; throat, examination. Inthe modification shown by Fig. 3, this tongue blade Ellis, provided witha confection portion B2, which creates a pleasant taste. during, theexamination and furnishes alollypop or sucker for consumption by the.patient following the, examination.

In orderto. provide a. space for. the confection portion, the tongueblade Ellis slotted as shown at 64. and when the blade is in position onthe carriage 52 theslotted section, of the. blade is closed at oneendby. the end shoulder 58" and the. blade, is retained in position bythe raised side pieces 56.

The. body 5 4 .0f .thej. carriage is also provided with depending lugs66 throug whicha stud 68 is passed to hold the carriage in position onthe. chain 50. The stud.68 passes through an opening; (not shown) formedin a cross member of a link of the chain 50. In this manner, each of thecarriages isfastened to the chain fifil'so as to be,.carried andamovedalong thereby as the chain passes over, the sprockets and 48 and betweenthem.,

The sprocket 46'for chain 50 is driven by a motor 10., which is suitablyconnected to the current source 24, by means of pulleys l2 and Mandabelt 16., Any desired type of change speed mechanism may beintroduced between the motor and pulleyfld, if such ,is desired.

The other sprocket 48. isconnected for rotation with apulleyfl whichdrives another pulley through a belt 82. Sprockets and 'a chain may besubstituted for these pulleys and belt if desired. The pulley 80 isconnected for rotation with a gear 84 which meshes with and drivesanother gear 86. The gear 86 is connected for rotation with asprocket 8Bwhich drives another sprocket 90 through a chain connector 92.

The chain 92 is provided with a series of top die members or. sections9.4, seeFigsH. and 8. Each of these top die sections comprises a flatbody 96 provided with upstanding lugs 98. The body is provided with ashallow recess I30 whichcontacts the top of the confection portion ofvthe, tongue blade and shapes it and at the same time compresses ittightly within the slotted portion; 64. of. the.- tongue blade.

The upstanding lugs 98 are provided with. threadedopenings' [DZ-throughwhich a threaded. stud; Hi l: (Fig. 1) is passed. This stud passesthrough an opening formed in a cross member of a, link oithe chainBZandthusfastens thetop die member to thechain. All of thetop diemembers are so fastened to..the chainlfland are thus. moved along by thechain as. it passesover. the sprockets 88..a11d.99-and between them.Therela tive sizes of the pulleys'lS and 8.0. Iandthe gearsflll and 8Bare such that a top die; member. contacts;

each carriage or bottomdie memberat theexact position to shapeandcompressthe confectionportion of each .tongueblade asexplainedlabove.

In order to prevent the. candy from sticking: to the die members it is.desirable. to coateach die member with a light layer of oil; forexample.

of the type known; in the candy;v industry as slaboil. To accomplishthislthe bottomrdieme'mbers.

are acted upon. by an ,oilr comprising anarm; [96 (see Figs. land 15),which islsuitably pivoted at 198 and carries anoiler assembly i at. its

outer end. The oiler assemb1'y.comprises.a

threaded sleeve. H2- which passes through an.

opening H t in thearm l06 and,fis, threadedlinto a gland nut .l lfi'andheld in placeby a .loclin'ut- H8. A wick material'lZil is enclosedwithin the. gland nut l l 6 and communicateswith a tubin 22 which istightly held withinthe sleeve H21 and communicates with an oil'storage'.tank I2 5 through ,a double shut-off valve I26.

The bottom oiler. is actuatedfby, the following; mechanism: A bellcrankI28 is pivoted "at i307and'j isconnected by a coilspring l32jto thearm.I05.

as shown in Fig. 1. They bellcrank [28F is re-- strained by a stop.1.34.. from rotatingcounterclockwise and is struck at its uppere'nd'b'y'v a.

cam surface l36 carried. by an end of the stud.

58 (Fig. 4) which holds, the bottom-carriage on: the chain 58. The. camsurface ISEQrQtatesthebellcrank clockwise and through the spring 132iraises the arm Hi8 until, the. wick, l20touches' the carriage or bottomdie right. under the portion which will receivethe molten hard candy;mix. As the camsurface I36"moves along, the bellcrank l28 will ride outfrom.v under it and be rotated counterclockwise by the weight of the arm95 and oiler assembly Hfijluntil the bellcrank strikes the stop I34,where it is in position to be moved by the next cam surface I36 to. oil"the next bottom die carriageover the area con-.- tacted by the molten,candy mix.

A top oiler assembly llil'is carriedby. an .arm. I38 suitably pivotedatl lfi and ;is connected'to the valve 426 by thetubing M21} The oileras:- sembly for the top oiler is identical in construction withthebottom oilerassembly so it will'not be described in further detail.The wick I20. of the top oiler assembly coatdthe-recess I00" (Fig. 8)with a thin layer of slab oil to prevent the top die member frombecoming gummed by the semi-molten candy mix.

The candy valve 40 (Figs. 12, 13 and 14) compri'se's a body member I44threaded at I46 to receive a nipple I48 which is threaded onto the pipe39 of the secondary chamber. The body member I44 is provided with acentral opening I56 and a cross opening I52 which is tapered andreceives a rotatable member I54 which is tapered to provide a close fitin the opening I52. The rotatable member I52 is provided with a bore I56which is concentric with the opening I50 when the valve is in openposition and which rotates to substantially ninety degrees and closesthe opening I59 when the valve is in closedposition. The valve body I44is provided with a further opening I58 which is concentric with'theopening I56 in the rotatable member when the valve is in open position.The wall of the opening I58 is made very short so as to form a very thinlip at the mouth of the opening I58. This arrangement cuts off the flowof candy mix sharply and prevents the formation of drops of mix at themouth of the valve.

The rotatable member is provided with a shoulder I68 which abuts thevalve body I44 and prevents end movement of the rotatable member I54 inone direction. A screw I62 is threadably connected to the opposite endof the rotatable member I54 and a washer I66 is positioned over themember I54 and abuts the valve body I44. A compression spring I64 isseated between the washer I56 and the head of the screw I62 and thusholds the rotatable member I54 in sealing contact with the interior ofthe opening I52.

The right hand end of the rotatable member as viewed in Fig. 13 isprovided with a flattened extension I68 which receives the bifurcatedend of a lever I which is fastened. to the flattened end I68 of therotatable member I54 by a through bolt I12.

The lever I18 is pivotally connected at its outer end to a piston rodI14 of a pneumatic actuator I16 of known type available on the openmarket so that it will not be described in detail. The pneumaticactuator I16 is pivotally connected at its bottom as shown at I18 to asuitable base I88. The actuator I16 is connected by a tubing I82 to thepressure tank 34. An air-electric valve I84 connects one end of theactuator I16 to the tubing I82 and a second air-electric valve I86connects the opposite end of the actuator I16 to the tubing I82.

The extent of movement of the lever I18 is limited by an adjustable stopin the form of a thumb screw I88 threaded through a fixed memher 190.

Micro-switches I92 and I94 are slidably carried by a bracket I96 and areadapted to be moved in either direction along the bracket by thumbscrews I98 and 288, respectively. The movable trips of thesemicro-switches are struck by the cam portions on the ends of the studs68 which are denoted by the numeral I36. The switch I92, through theapparatus later described energizes the air-electric valve I84 to openthe candy valve 40 to discharge molten candy mix into the recess 64 ofthe tongue blade, or other type of candy' mold, and the switch I94energizes the air-electric valve I86 to close the candy valve 40.

The simple operation just described would suffice for all operations ifit were not for the fact that conditions occur which make it undesirablefor the candy valve 40 to open. For exam ie,

the opening of the candy valve 40 above an empty carriage woulddischarge molten candy mix over the surface of the carriage and wouldfoul the machine. In order to avoid such a situation a checkingmechanism is employed to prevent actuation of the candy valve 40 when atongue blade is not on the carriage in position to be properly filledwith molten candy mix.

The checking mechanism comprises a. cat whisker 2I2 carried by aninsulating member 2 I4. The cat whisker is connected by a wireconnection 2I6 to a micro-switch 2I8 fixedly mounted in position to beactuated by the cam surfaces I86 to close the switch circuit. The switch2 I8 is connected by a wire 220 through an off and on switch 222 to asolenoid 224 of a remote control switch 226. The other contact of thesolenoid 224 is connected by a wire 228 to one contact of the secondaryof a. step-down transformer 230. The other contact of the secondary isconnected by a wire 232 to a ground connection 234 on the frame of themachine. The bottom die carriages 52 are of course grounded to the frameof the machine as shown at 236. The solenoid 224 actuates an armature238 of the remote control switch, which is suitably pivoted as shown at248, by means of a connecting rod 242. The armature 238 carries amovable contact 244 which co-acts with a fixed contact 248. The movablecontact 244 is connected by means of a pig-tail 248 to a connector wire250 which runs to one terminal of the micro-switch I92. The fixedcontact 246 is connected by a. connector wire 252 to one side of asource of electric current 254.

The other terminal of the micro-switch I92 is connected by a wireconnector 256 to one terminal of the air-electric valve I84. The otherterminal of the air-electric valve I64 is connected by a wire connector258 to the other side of the source of electric current 254.

The other micro-switch I94 shown at the right hand side of Fig. 2 hasone terminal connected by a wire connector 268 to one side of the sourceof electric current 254 and the other terminal is connected by a wireconnector 262 to one terminal of the air-electric valve I86. The otherterminal of the air-electric valve I 86 is connected by a wire connector264 to the other side of the source of electric current 254.

A micro-switch 266 is positioned so as to have its movable trip actuatedby the cam surfaces I36 on the ends of the studs 68 and has one terminalconnected by wire connector 268 to the wire connector 228 which isconnected to one side of the secondary of the transformer 230. Theprimary of the transformer 230 is connected by wire connectors 218 and212 to the source of electric current 254. The other terminal of themicroswitch 266 is connected by wire connector 216 to one terminal of asecond solenoid 218 of the remote control switch 226. The other terminalof the solenoid 218 is connected by a wire connector 280 to the wireconnector 232 which is connected to the other side of the secondary ofthe transformer 230. The solenoid 218 actuates a connecting rod 282which is loosely pivoted at 284 to the armature 238.

In the carrying out of theprocessof the invention and the operation ofthe machine ofthe' seams.

invention, the ingredientss of. a candy mixares filled into thetank..asnshownatti 'Theainrgredients .so placed in .the.tank atfthistime will.

perature below 300. degreesj'R, preferably. 2.7041207 290 degrees F.The, pressure valve 32.. andithe,

introduction valve 38 are. closed... andthe .pipe 28, is connected to asuitable source. of .vacuum.

As soon as the candy. mix. reaches 2l2 -degrees.

F. a doctor, such ascream of tartar intro: duced into the mix by.opening the introduction valve 38. and depositing. the. '-doctor throughthis valve. The valve '38 isthen-closed and the cook-'- ing continuesuntil the reaches the temperat'urefor which the thermostat 20. is set atwhich vtimerthe gas-electric ,valve 18- is closed by the thermostatinterrupting. the flow. of. electric current'to this valve. 'Thiscausesthe burner 6.

to be extinguishedbutthe burner 45] continues to burn. The intensity ofthis burner is set by the valve. 4-1 to heat the valve. M'iandsecondarychamber to 300 degrees- F.

The 'pip'e28. is then suitably closed off from the. vacuum source byanydesired type of valve (not shown) and the introduction valve 38-isagain, openedand coloring and ..fiavoring.,materials are introducedintothe candy mix after which the valve 3'8.is again closed. The valve'32 is then opened to place an'yfdesired pressure in the tank above themix'M; A pressureof 2 to 10. pounds will usually be su'fiicient.

The valve f26'oftheoiler system is then opened andthe motor is suitablyconnectedto the power source as by. anydesired type of switch (notshown). Thisxcanses the chainio to be driven in the direction ofthearrow285. otFig. 2. As each bottom die carriage 52 passes under themagazine. 2-H) it has a notchedv tongue blade 60 depositedthereonasshown inFig. 4. As the first-carriage with a tongue blade on it moves.under the candy valve 40 the cam surface. I35 of the stud 68 of thiscarriage strikes the movable trip of the mioro-switch l92. Thiscausesacurrent to. flow frornthe. top wire of current source 254 asviewedin.-Fig. 2 throughthe connectors 2B6 and'25'8 to the air-electricvalve I84, through the connector 256 vto the micro-switch 192, throughthe connector 259 and the pig'- tail 24$ to the contact 244. ofthe-remote control switch 226, through fixed contact 246 and connector252 to the bottom wire of the current source-254nas viewed in Fig. 2.This energizesthe, air-electric valve I84 so as to admit compressed airfrom the tank 34 above the piston of the pneumatic actuator [16 to causetherconnecting rod I74 to lower and rotate the arm I10 toopen the candyvalve 40 so as to permit molten candy mix toiiow out of the valve 40 andfill the notch 64-of thetongue blade as the blade is moved along by theear riage. As this notch 64 is filled the camsurface I316v passes overthe movable trip of micro-switch I92 andstrikes the movable trip-ofthe-,microswitch I94.

The closing ofmicro-switch 194 causes a current to flow from the topwire of currentsource 254 as viewed 2' through the connector 260 to themicro-swfitchlfl, through the connector 262 to the air-electric valve[86,through the connector 264 to the-bottom wire. of thecurrent source254.

This causesthe ,air-electrievalvej 8 6. to become energized '1 and admit1 compressed air, fromtank...

' wise asviewed inivFighzand close the. candy valve 40. andithusstophfithe flow .ot molten candy mix.

.Aslthe molten candyimixp assesirom the pri-. mam-chamber; formedfbythe. tank. lfliin which itisat 8opplI02dm3rt1X- H5F 290:degIEeSF. tovthe secondary;chamberiormed'bvthe pipe39and the.

candyvalverlnwit is raised,to apreferred temperature .justibelow.the.;.caramelizing range for the sugars. in .themixa. This temperature.is 300v to 305. degrees; :E. .ior=most mandymixes. Thispreferredtemperature controlled by suitable adjustment of .the ga.ssvalve .44..to hold the. flame of burner-42 at just-=,the rightintensity. to .produce thistemperature. This temperature is checked fromtime to timeby placinga thermometer againstthe. -candyvalve 40.and'adjusting thegas.-valve 44rto-raiseor. lower the-flame of burner. 42to produces the desiredv temperature. This temperature doesnot varyappreciably because the candy mix in: the, primary chamber isheldat.aconstant temperature bythe thermostatically controlled burner l6lithe temperature of .thezcandyt mix in the. primarychamber tends to-=.lo wer,-.the;-thermostat..20 opens-the gaselectricvalvelsstofsupplyzgasto the burner 16 which is ignited by lthe flame ofburner 42. When the. temperature: again stabilizes at: the desiredpointthe thermostat zilcloses the gasrelectric valve i 8-,-to. shut oh;the: burnersl 6.

Inthis manner, the candy mix in the primary chamber is helddnlafreelymolten state but below the caramelizing range and is: moved up tothedesired top; cookingttemperature 4 in the secondary chamber ,justbefore it is dispensed through the candy valve: 40. Thus .the presentinvention makes it,v possible toihold alarge quanty; ofh-ard 'candy'mixin a molten state, so as to permitit-to -.beodisp ensed through a.valve, for a longperioddvithoutcausing it to discolor and changeflavor, dueto caramelization. This has nevenbeen accomplished prior-.130this invention the ton-gue blade the rateaoffiow canbe con? trolledbyadjusting the-thumb. screw. [83 (Fig. 2) so as to stop the arm H0 at aposition to lessenror increase the flow of through the valve--40.The-angular-position of theopening [-56 is wsuitablyadjustedrelative tothe arm H9 to.increaseutheamountof now through the valve 40ias=the arm;llllvisf lowered.

In ,the eventith-evalve did not open at the correct time-relativeto-the, position of.the,carriage 52; it can-.heicausedto open sooner-bymoving the micro-switch. l92,.to.the..let, as viewed inllifigi,bytherthumb screw] I98, and conversely, thevalve 40..ca i..be caused toopen later by moving the thumbscrew I98 so as to movev themicroswi-tchl92 to the right; Also, the time. of closing of'the valve 40can be similarly controlled by movingthe thumbscrew 200 to move themicroswitch .l94ito the leit to: close valve 40 sooner or to theirighttoclose.valve-'40 "later. Thus by 9 means of the thumbscrews I88,I98 and 200 it is possible to accurately. control the amount of moltencandy mix which is dispensed by the valve 40 and the position relativeto the carriages 52 at which it is dispensed.

In the event the magazine 2I0 fails for any reason to deposit a tongueblade 60 upon any carriage 52 during the operation of the machine, thecat-whisker 2 I2 will make electrical contact with the empty carriageand when the following carriage is in position where the cam surface I36of its stud 68 operates the movable trip of microswitch 2IB a current iscaused to flow from one side of the secondary of step-down transformer230 through the conductor 232 to ground 234 which is common to ground236, through the carriage 52 and cat-whisker 2 I2 to conductor 2I6 tomicro-switch 2I8, through conductor 220 and closed switch 222 tosolenoid 224, through conductor 228 to the other side of the secondaryof transformer 230. This energizes solenoid 224 and actuates connectingrod 284 to rotate the armature 238 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 to movethe contact 244 and break the circuit described above for micro-switchI92 and air-elec tric valve I84. Under this condition, the microswitchI32 is not able to energize the air-electric valve I84 when the camsurface I36 of the stud 68 of the empty carriage strikes the movabletrip of the micro-switch I92 so that the candy valve 40 is not openedfor this carriage and no flow of molten candy mix onto an empty carriageoccurs.

It is possible that the next carriage after the empty one may receive atongue blade 60 from the magazine so that normal operation of the candyvalve 40 should be resumed. To accomplish this, micro-switch 266 ispositioned so that its movable trip is actuated by a cam surface I36 ofa carriage 52 just after the cam suface I36 of the empty carriage hasactuated the movable trip of the micro-switch I92. When the micro-switch266 is thus actuated it causes a current to flow from one side of thesecondary of transformer 230 through conductors 228 and 268 to themicroswitch 266, through conductor 216 to one terminal of theothersolenoid 218 of remote control switch 226, from the other terminalof solenoid 218 through conductors 280 and 232 to the other side of thesecondary of transformer 230. This energizes solenoid 218 and movesconnecting rod 282 to rotate armature 23B counterclockwise as viewed inFig. 2 to close contacts 244 and 246. The circuit for micro-switch I92is thus restored and it will be active to open the valve 40 for thecandy mix each time-the carriage beneath this valve contains a tongueblade, but the operations described above will take place automaticallyto prevent opening of the valve when no tongue blade is on the carriagebeneath and cause opening of the candy valve 40 when the carriagebeneath contains a tongue blade regardless of how frequently an empty orfilled carriage appears beneath the valve. This insures that each bladewill receive a charge of candy and that no empty carriage will receive acharge of candy.

As the tongue blades with their notches filled with molten candy movealong they are cooled either by natural dissipation of heat or by havinga stream of air or refrigerated air directed against them to cause thecandy to assume a plastic state. The candy in a plastic state thenpasses into position where the top dies 94 contact the candy mass andshape it, compress it tightly within the notches 54 and complete or 10substantially complete the cooling process to harden the candy. Thesedies may be suitably cooled by air streams (not shown) if desired.

As the bottom die carriages 52 pass over the sprocket 48 the completedcombination tongue blade-confections are suitably removed and packed forshipment.

In addition to the specialty product previously described, the processand machine of the present invention can be used to make any other Wellknown or desired new type of hard candy confection. For example,lollypops, hard balls, drops, fancy figures and the like can be producedmerely by changing the configuration of the top and bottom dies.

The type of top and bottom dies for making lollypops, as an example, areillustrated by Figs. 9, l0, and 11. These dies comprise a top die 300and a bottom die 302. The bottom die 302 comprises a body 304 having acavity which is hemispherical at its bottom as shown at 306 and becomescylindrical near its top as shown at 308. This cavity is flaredoutwardly at its top by the bevel 3I0. The bottom die 302 is shown incross section in Fig. 11 on a plane indicated by line I I- II of Fig. 10and looking in the direction of the arrows. One side of the die isslotted as shown at 3I 2 and the bottom of this slot is slanted inwardlyas shown at 3 I4. The purpose of this slot is to receive and hold acandy stick 3I6. The body 304 is provided with two depending lugs 3 I 8,each having an opening 320 to receive a stud to fasten the die to achain in the same manner as previously explained for the tongue bladedies.

The top die of Fig. 11 comprises a body 322 having a cavity 324 which isslightly less than a hemisphere. The body is slotted as shown at 326 toprovide clearance for the candy stick 3I6. The body 322 is provided withtwo upstanding ,lugs 328, each of which is provided with an opening 330to receive a stud for fastening the top die to a chain in the samemanner as previously explained for the top tongue blade die.

The carrying out of the process of the present invention and theoperation of the machine of the present invention is substantially thesame when the dies of Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are used as when the tongueblade dies are used. The main differences are that the candy valve 40 isadjusted to open further and discharge a larger quantity of molten candymix into the bottom die 302 and preferably a spray type oiler is used tooil the die cavities because of their depth. The molten candy mix ispreferably filled into the bottom die cavity 306 until the cavity isfilled to a point just above the diameter line as shown at 336. Theamount of candy mix above the diameter line is forced up into the top ofthe cavity 324 of the top die member 300 when the latter is moved downinto the cavity of the bottom die member 306 when the two die membersare brought together towards the end of the travel of the candy mix inthe bottom die member as explained above in connection with the tongueblade. The slot 326 in the top die member fits over the candy stick 3I6and prevents candy mix from being forced into the slotted area.

Any desired type of atomizer pump may be used to spray oil into thecavities 306 and 324 of the bottom and top die members in order to oilthese cavities to prevent sticking of the candy in the dies. Theconfection can be ejected from the bottom die member by exertingpressure upwardly on the sticks 3I6 by any suitable means as the chaincarrying the bottom dies passes over 11 the sprocket 48 so thatthe'confections drop out of the dies upon any suitable: receptionsurface or container.

The process and machine of the'present invention make it possible forthe first time to produce hard candy confections on an automaticbasisand at a minimum of expense in regard toti-me and handling. Also, thisprocess and machine produces candy of a more uniform consistency thanprior art operations, all of which contribute to the advancement of theart of candy making.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above process and inconstructing the above machine may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention,'it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

The process and apparatus of the present invention have been usedcommercially to bring large batches of hard candy to a molten'statewhere it can be held for a suflicient time to permit it to be dispenseddirectly into candy forming molds without either burning, discoloring,losing flavor, crystallizing or otherwise becoming unfit for candy use.The feature of holding the batch at a sufiicient temperature to bemolten but below any temperature which harms the batch, and thenbringing relatively small quantities of the batch up to the propertemperature to produce a high grade of hard candy, free fromcrystallization, stickiness or discoloration, or other undesirableproperties, just prior to separation of the small quantity from thelarger batch, and then promptly separating the small quantity bydispensing it into a suitable forming operation, is entirely new withthe present invention and is thus an outstanding advance in an old andwell known art which has been groping for such an improvement for manyyears of active operation.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. A process of makinga product which in the candy industry istechnically termed hard candy, which comprises dispersing a mixture ofhard candy ingredients containing sugar in a thin cross-sectionalvolumeover anarea so that the entire volume of mixture canbesubstantially instantaneously heated, rapidly applying heat to saidmixture to raise it substantially instantaneously to final desiredcooking temperature to bring about the chemical and physical changes inthe mixture which will produce hard candy when the mixture is cooled,and suddenly releasing said volume from said heat to avoidcarameliza-tion of the sugar.

2. A process of making a product which in the candy industry istechnically termed hardcandy, which comprises heating a mixture of hardcandy ingredients containing sugar, controlling the heating temperatureso that itdoes not rise to the final desired cooking temperature,withdrawing'a' volume -of themixture which is to be subjected to"forming operation, dispersing the said volume in a thin cross-sectionalquantity over an 'area-sothat "said entire volume can be substantiallyinstantaneously heated, rapidly applying heat to said volume to raise itsubstantially instantaneously to final desired cooking temperature tobring about'thechemical and physical changes the mixture which willproduce hard candy when the mixture is cooled, suddenlyreleasingsaid-volume from said heat to avoid car- 'anielization ofthe'sugar, and directing said volume'to' forming operation.

-3.-The-process ofmaking a product which in the candy industryis'technically termed hard candy? which comprises subjecting a mixturecontaining sugar -'rap'idlyto heat to produce a "final cookingtemperature to bring about the chemical and physical changes in themixture *which will'produce hardcandy when themixture'iscooled,'-sudden1y'releasing the heat to preventcar-amelization-of the sugar and discharging the mixture directly toaforming operation.

4. "A process of making aproduct which in the candyindustryistechnically termed hard can- 'dy, whieh'comprises heating a mixture ofhard candy ingredients containing sugar, controlling theheating'temperature so that it does not rise to the finaldesired-cookingtemperature, withdrawing a volume of the-mixture which isto be subjected to 'form-ingmperation, dispersing the said volume in athin "cross-sectional quantity over an area so that said entirevolumecan be substantially instantaneously heated, rapidly applying heat tosaid-volumeto raise it substantially instantaneously to final desiredcooking temperature to bring about the chemical and physical changes inthe mixture which will produce hard candy when the mixture is cooled,suddenly releasing -said volume "from said heat to avoid caramelizationof'the sugar, and directing said volume 'to 'forming operation and atthe same timereplacin-g said volume with a second like volumefrom theoriginal mixture of hard candy ingredients.

1. A PROCESS OF MAKING A PRODUCT WHICH IN THE CANDY INDUSTRY ISTECHNICALLY TERMED ''''HARD CANDY,'''' WHICH COMPRISES DISPERSING AMIXTURE OF ''''HARD CANDY'''' INGREDIENTS CONTAINING SUGAR IN A THINCROSS-SECTIONAL VOLUME OVER AN AREA SO THAT THE ENTIRE VOLUME OF MIXTURECAN BE SUBSTANTIALLY INSTANTANEOUSLY HEATED, RAPIDLY APPLYING HEAT TOSAID MIXTURE TO RAISE IT SUBSTANTIALLY INSTANTANEOUSLY TO FINAL DESIREDCOOKING TEMPERATURE TO BRING ABOUT THE CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL CHANGES INTHE MIXTURE WHICH WILL PRODUCE "HARD CANDY" WHEN THE MIXTURE IS COOLED,AND SUDDENLY RELEASING SAID VOLUME FROM SAID HEAT TO AVOIDCARAMELIZATION OF THE SUGAR.